Biology Flashcards
Who was Charles Darwin?
An English naturalist who studied variation in plants, animals, and fossils during a five-year voyage around the world.
What ship did Charles Darwin travel on during his voyage?
HMS Beagle
What significant location did Darwin visit that influenced his studies?
Galapágos Islands
What was the main focus of Darwin’s observations during his voyage?
Variation in organisms including finches, tortoises, and mocking birds.
What major theory did Darwin propose?
Theory of evolution by natural selection
What did Darwin’s theory of evolution challenge?
The idea that God made all the animals and plants that live on Earth.
How long after his voyage did Darwin publish his scientific work?
28 years
What are the key components of Darwin’s theory of natural selection? List them.
- Individual organisms within a species show a wide range of variation for a characteristic
- Individuals with characteristics most suited to the environment are more likely to survive and breed successfully
- The characteristics that enable survival are passed on to the next generation
True or False: Darwin’s observations were supported by experimentation and discussions with like-minded scientists.
True
Fill in the blank: Darwin proposed that individual organisms within a particular _______ show a wide range of variation for a characteristic.
species
Fill in the blank: The characteristics that have enabled individuals to survive are then passed on to the next _______.
generation
What is antibiotic resistance?
The ability of bacteria to survive and grow despite the presence of antibiotics.
How do bacteria evolve quickly?
Bacteria can evolve quickly because they reproduce at a fast rate.
What role do mutations play in bacterial evolution?
Mutations produce new strains of bacteria, some of which may become resistant to antibiotics.
What is an example of natural selection in bacteria?
The evolution of bacteria that become resistant to antibiotics is an example of natural selection.
What theory does the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria support?
Darwin’s theory of evolution.
List the main steps in the development of antibiotic resistance.
- Random mutation occurs in the genes of individual bacterial cells
- Some mutations protect the bacterial cell from the effects of the antibiotic
- Bacteria without the mutation die or cannot reproduce when the antibiotic is present.
Fill in the blank: The process through which bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics is called _______.
[evolution of resistance]
True or False: All bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.
False.
What happens to bacteria that do not have mutations for antibiotic resistance?
They die or cannot reproduce when the antibiotic is present.
